http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

As California enters its third year of drought, Gov. Gavin Newsom told cities and other local water agencies to curb water use and enact stage two of their water shortage contingency plans, but did not order mandatory statewide cutbacks as Gov. Jerry Brown did years ago. Newsom has asked for water conservation of 15% to little avail. Water conservation in January was less than 6%. California’s major reservoirs averaged about 69% of capacity, per the Department of Water Resources. Shasta Lake is about half full. The Sierra snowpack is about 39% of normal and has largely evaporated. Gov. Newsom also urged the State Water Resources Control Board to consider banning irrigation of “non-functional” grass, which would include decorative grass around commercial and industrial buildings. The governor also was expediting help for Central Valley communities that were affected by drought and urgently needed bottled water or other emergency supplies. He would hasten state agency approvals needed “to protect fish and wildlife where drought actions threaten their health and survival.” The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), March 28, 2022